The Netherlands delivered a dominant performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Romania in their round of 16 clash on Tuesday, a triumph that propels them into the Euro quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.
The match saw Cody Gakpo continuing his stellar form, netting his third goal of the tournament, while Donyell Malen sealed the Netherlands' triumph with two late goals. The result was a stark contrast to their previous outing, where they suffered a 3-2 defeat to Austria.
Match Dynamics and Key Moments
Romania asserted themselves early on, controlling the tempo for the first quarter-hour. Despite this early pressure, the Netherlands demonstrated their dominance by maintaining two-thirds of possession and recording nearly five times more attempts on goal than their opponents—registering a total of 24 shots.
The Dutch defense, led by Virgil van Dijk, was resolute throughout, almost opening their account when the captain's powerful header struck the post. Nevertheless, it was Gakpo who drew first blood, setting the stage for the Netherlands' commanding display.
In the final minutes of the match, Malen delivered a double blow to Romania's hopes. His first goal came in the 83rd minute after a brilliant set-up by Gakpo. Malen then put the result beyond doubt with his second strike deep into stoppage time.
Manager and Player Reactions
Virgil van Dijk reflected on the encounter with a mix of pride and satisfaction, commenting, "Very proud, sure, and pleased as well. We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much." Recognizing the team's need for improvement from their previous match, he added, "We could have scored a lot more. After a turbulent week, where a lot was said, we had to show something and we did that. We are self-critical and we knew it had to be a lot better after the last game and everyone had to take responsibility and today they showed they wanted to."
Head coach Ronald Koeman echoed this sentiment, appreciating the team's overall performance but acknowledging the initial struggles. "I thought there were a lot of good things we did. The team realised that the last game was really bad in all aspects and so they have given out a strong message. We played well in the whole game, except the first 10 minutes when there was a lot of pressure," he remarked. He also highlighted the tactical approach, saying, "We had analysed Romania well. Belgium showed us there was a lot of space to exploit [against Romania]. But it took a long time before we got the second goal." Koeman wasn't particularly worried about Romania's potential equalizer. "I wasn't scared they'd equalise because we defended so well. I thought Xavi Simons was our best player too, he drove the team forward and was nice and aggressive," he added.
Cody Gakpo, who played a pivotal role with his goal and assist, shared his thoughts on the match. "This was the answer we had to our last performance—good game, good goals, we played good football," he said, underscoring the need for consistent improvement. He added, "Of course we could do better but a good showing after the last game. A good step in that next direction. We felt we were in control even though they were a dangerous opponent."
Looking Forward
With this comprehensive victory, the Netherlands have set the stage for what promises to be an intriguing quarter-final clash against either Austria or Turkey in Berlin on Saturday. As the team progresses, the solid foundation laid in their win against Romania will undoubtedly be crucial as they aim to build momentum and continue their quest for European glory.